Emeka Okafor eyeing NBA comeback

After last playing professional basketball during the 2012-13 season, former NBA big man Emeka Okafor is eyeing a return to the Association this winter.

While he's not physically ready for a comeback at present, Okafor is currently working on his conditioning, and is looking to make his long-awaited return to a contender in December or January.

"He's probably five or six months away,'" Okafor's agent, Jeff Schwartz told ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. "He's been working hard rehabbing. For some guys that means one thing. To Emeka, who understands his body as well or better than some trainers that have worked with him, it means something else. He's healthy. He feels great, but he's a perfectionist, and he wants everything to be right.''

The 33-year-old center spent time with the Charlotte Bobcats, New Orleans Hornets, and Washington Wizards over nine professional seasons, averaging 12.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 590 career games.

"He's not going to make a decision based on money," Jim Calhoun, Okafor's coach at UConn, told MacMullan. "He doesn't need it. This is a kid who graduated with a 3.9 GPA. He wants to play a couple more years then go to business school at Harvard. He's only going to play for a contending team."

League sources told MacMullan that Okafor already attempted a comeback last season, speaking with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Golden State Warriors before ultimately deciding to delay his return.

Warriors general manager Bob Myers reportedly also spoke to Okafor earlier this summer, but chose to sign big men David West and Zaza Pachulia in an effort to strengthen Golden State's frontcourt.